Guilin

Guilin's karst landscape — rivers threading between limestone peaks — has made this large city in Guangxi one of China's most visited destinations for centuries, captured in the well-known saying that "Guilin's scenery is the best in the world." Set on the west bank of the Li River, the city also carries a designation as a National Famous Historical and Cultural City, and its name translates as "forest of sweet osmanthus," reflecting the fragrant trees that fill the region.

• Population1,572,300
• Nearest water from center0.2 km
• Nearest mountain from center1.4 km
• UNESCO within 50 km2